Why Is Stem Cell Research Bad
Barbara Hagemeister
Mrs. Hall
Comp I
April 26, 2011
Is Stem Cell Research Good or Bad? Stem cell research is a very complex subject. “Stem cells hold great potential for developing therapies to treat a wide range of human diseases. Already in clinical use is blood stem cell transplant, known well as bone marrow transplant therapy for the treatment of patients with certain types of blood diseases and cancers. The discovery of stem cells in various adult tissues, stem cells plasticity, and human embryonic stem cells bring excitement and opportunities” (Encyclopedia of Science and Technology). The rulers of society do not see any money in curing the masses, only treating us. Bone marrow transplants have been done for many years to treat …show more content…
many problems with blood. When asked the question “Is stem cell research good or bad?” One must examine the detailed explanation of stem cells, the support for the research, and the opposing party’s views.
There are many types of stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are from potential human beings, making this type the most controversial. They can be turned in to any type of tissue, which means they have the greatest potential for curing diseases. According to Stem Cell Information website by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services a stem cell is “a cell that has the ability to divide (self-replicate) for indefinite periods—often throughout the life of the organism. Under the right conditions, or given the right signals, stem cells can give rise (differentiate) to the many different cell types that make up the organism. That is, stem cells have the potential to develop into mature cells that have characteristic shapes and specialized functions, such as heart cells, skin cells, or nerve cells” (The Stem Cell). Stem cells can be separated in to groups Totipotent, Pluripotent, and Multipotent. The types of stem cells can better be described by Rich Deem in stem cell research/ cloning: status and ethics:
Stem cells can be classified into three broad categories, based on their ability to differentiate. Totipotent stem cells are found only in early embryos. Each cell can form a complete organism (e.g., identical twins). Pluripotent stem cells exist in the undifferentiated inner cell mass of the blastocyst and can form any of the over 200 different cell types found in the body. Multipotent stem cells are derived from fetal tissue, cord blood and adult stem cells. Although their ability to differentiate is more limited than pluripotent stem cells, they already have a track record of success in cell-based therapies. Here is a current list of the sources of stem cells: 1.) Embryonic stem cells - are harvested from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst seven to ten days after fertilization. 2.) Fetal stem cells - are taken from the germline tissues that will make up the gonads of aborted fetuses. 3.) Umbilical cord stem cells - Umbilical cord blood contains stem cells similar to those found in bone marrow. 4.) Placenta derived stem cells - up to ten times as many stem cells can be harvested from a placenta as from cord blood. 5.) Adult stem cells - Many adult tissues contain stem cells that can be isolated (Deem).
Adult or somatic cells have recently been coached into turning into embryonic like cells. Their primary function is to replenish cells lost from disease or normal turnover in the specific tissues that they are found.
There are many supporters of stem cell research including celebrities such as Harrison Ford, Dustin Hoffman, Michael J.
Fox, James Taylor, Warren Beatty, Christopher Reeve, Bill Gates, Muhammad Ali, Mary Tyler Moore, Nancy Reagan, Jimmy Johnstone, E-Bay founder Pierre Omidyar, billionaire savings and loan executives Marion and Herbert Sandler, the Nova Nordisk corporation and The Entertainment Industry Foundation. These people have worked to further research so that people can be cured of some of the health problems. The scientists that do the research have problems finding funding. Michael J. Fox and Christopher Reeve have set up research projects. Michael J. Fox did a commercial to gain support for research. Still, some people do not acknowledge the good things that are possible with stem cell research such as cures for diseases.
Stem cell research has the potential to cure many diseases, for example, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, and arthritis (Encylopedia of Science and Technology). Bone marrow transplants can treat sickle cell disease, Hurler’s syndrome, Wiskott- Aldrich syndrome, multiple myeloma, and severe combined immunodeficiency disorder (Stem Cell Information). According to Bernard Edward Tuch in the Australian Family …show more content…
Physician,
“[the] Benefits of stem cells: Therapeutic- only non-embryonic stem cells (non-esc) have benefited therapy for leukemia, multiple myeloma and lymphoma; and disorders with defective genus such as severe combined immune deficiency. There have been clinical trials with non-esc for Ischemic heart disease, nonunion of fractured bones, Parkinson’s Disease, spinal cord lesions, Huntington disease, type I diabetes, and other conditions such as corneal and retinal lesions, motor neuron disease, Alzheimer disease, and muscular dystrophy” (Stem Cells: A Clinical Update).
The Berlin Patient has undergone stem cell therapy and the leukemia and HIV that was in his system has been gone for over three years with no medication (Long-Term Control of HIV by CCR5 Delta32/Delta32 Stem-Cell Transplantation).
It seems there are many benefits to the research.
Most anti-stem cell people are against research because it is the embryonic type. In spite of so many potential benefits of stem cell research, many oppose it, even from abortions. World Series pitcher Jeff Suppan took part in a commercial in response to Michael J. Fox’s commercial. There were others also involved in the ad against stem cell research, NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, actors Jim Caviezel and Patricia Heaton, and, baseball player Mike Sweeney. The catholic church is against embryonic stem cell(esc) research, and supposedly supports adult stem cell research but does not show lots of support in the media.
The people that are opposed to stem cell research all have one main point against the research. Their main point against stem cell research is that it destroys potential human life. They do not voice other complaints. Most ESC research is done with extra cells left unused from invitro fertilization (IVF), with permission from the donors. The church disagrees with IVF and any good that can come from the leftovers from it. The church does however support non-esc
research.
In my opinion, there are many benefits of stem cell research, and the good greatly outweighs the bad. The main reason the authorities are against stem cell research is simple, for there is no money in curing diseases. The pharmaceutical companies would lose too much money if stem cells produce cures for the diseases that afflict most humans in the world today. The sad fact is the world is run by a dozen or so people who can afford anything that is needed, so they have no want to help everyone.
Works Cited
“Catholics Fund Stem Cell Research”. News.bbc.co.uk. BBC 26 Jul 2010. Web. 17 Apr 2011.
“chapter 1. The Stem Cell”. Stem Cell Information. National Institutes of Health U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. 09 Jan 2011.Web.18 Apr 2011.
Deem, Rich. “Stem Cell Research/Cloning: Status and Ethics.” http://www.godandscience.org/slideshow/stem005.html. Evidence for God. 6 Jul 2004
Web.19 Apr 2011.
Hütter, Gero et al. Long-Term Control of HIV by CCR5 Delta32/Delta32 Stem-Cell
Transplantation N Engl J Med 2009; 360:692-698. 12 Feb 2009.
“Stem Cells”. Encylopedia of Science and Technology. 10th ed. 2007. Print.
Mrs. Hall
Comp I
April 26, 2011
Is Stem Cell Research Good or Bad? Stem cell research is a very complex subject. “Stem cells hold great potential for developing therapies to treat a wide range of human diseases. Already in clinical use is blood stem cell transplant, known well as bone marrow transplant therapy for the treatment of patients with certain types of blood diseases and cancers. The discovery of stem cells in various adult tissues, stem cells plasticity, and human embryonic stem cells bring excitement and opportunities” (Encyclopedia of Science and Technology). The rulers of society do not see any money in curing the masses, only treating us. Bone marrow transplants have been done for many years to treat …show more content…
many problems with blood. When asked the question “Is stem cell research good or bad?” One must examine the detailed explanation of stem cells, the support for the research, and the opposing party’s views.
There are many types of stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are from potential human beings, making this type the most controversial. They can be turned in to any type of tissue, which means they have the greatest potential for curing diseases. According to Stem Cell Information website by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services a stem cell is “a cell that has the ability to divide (self-replicate) for indefinite periods—often throughout the life of the organism. Under the right conditions, or given the right signals, stem cells can give rise (differentiate) to the many different cell types that make up the organism. That is, stem cells have the potential to develop into mature cells that have characteristic shapes and specialized functions, such as heart cells, skin cells, or nerve cells” (The Stem Cell). Stem cells can be separated in to groups Totipotent, Pluripotent, and Multipotent. The types of stem cells can better be described by Rich Deem in stem cell research/ cloning: status and ethics:
Stem cells can be classified into three broad categories, based on their ability to differentiate. Totipotent stem cells are found only in early embryos. Each cell can form a complete organism (e.g., identical twins). Pluripotent stem cells exist in the undifferentiated inner cell mass of the blastocyst and can form any of the over 200 different cell types found in the body. Multipotent stem cells are derived from fetal tissue, cord blood and adult stem cells. Although their ability to differentiate is more limited than pluripotent stem cells, they already have a track record of success in cell-based therapies. Here is a current list of the sources of stem cells: 1.) Embryonic stem cells - are harvested from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst seven to ten days after fertilization. 2.) Fetal stem cells - are taken from the germline tissues that will make up the gonads of aborted fetuses. 3.) Umbilical cord stem cells - Umbilical cord blood contains stem cells similar to those found in bone marrow. 4.) Placenta derived stem cells - up to ten times as many stem cells can be harvested from a placenta as from cord blood. 5.) Adult stem cells - Many adult tissues contain stem cells that can be isolated (Deem).
Adult or somatic cells have recently been coached into turning into embryonic like cells. Their primary function is to replenish cells lost from disease or normal turnover in the specific tissues that they are found.
There are many supporters of stem cell research including celebrities such as Harrison Ford, Dustin Hoffman, Michael J.
Fox, James Taylor, Warren Beatty, Christopher Reeve, Bill Gates, Muhammad Ali, Mary Tyler Moore, Nancy Reagan, Jimmy Johnstone, E-Bay founder Pierre Omidyar, billionaire savings and loan executives Marion and Herbert Sandler, the Nova Nordisk corporation and The Entertainment Industry Foundation. These people have worked to further research so that people can be cured of some of the health problems. The scientists that do the research have problems finding funding. Michael J. Fox and Christopher Reeve have set up research projects. Michael J. Fox did a commercial to gain support for research. Still, some people do not acknowledge the good things that are possible with stem cell research such as cures for diseases.
Stem cell research has the potential to cure many diseases, for example, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, and arthritis (Encylopedia of Science and Technology). Bone marrow transplants can treat sickle cell disease, Hurler’s syndrome, Wiskott- Aldrich syndrome, multiple myeloma, and severe combined immunodeficiency disorder (Stem Cell Information). According to Bernard Edward Tuch in the Australian Family …show more content…
Physician,
“[the] Benefits of stem cells: Therapeutic- only non-embryonic stem cells (non-esc) have benefited therapy for leukemia, multiple myeloma and lymphoma; and disorders with defective genus such as severe combined immune deficiency. There have been clinical trials with non-esc for Ischemic heart disease, nonunion of fractured bones, Parkinson’s Disease, spinal cord lesions, Huntington disease, type I diabetes, and other conditions such as corneal and retinal lesions, motor neuron disease, Alzheimer disease, and muscular dystrophy” (Stem Cells: A Clinical Update).
The Berlin Patient has undergone stem cell therapy and the leukemia and HIV that was in his system has been gone for over three years with no medication (Long-Term Control of HIV by CCR5 Delta32/Delta32 Stem-Cell Transplantation).
It seems there are many benefits to the research.
Most anti-stem cell people are against research because it is the embryonic type. In spite of so many potential benefits of stem cell research, many oppose it, even from abortions. World Series pitcher Jeff Suppan took part in a commercial in response to Michael J. Fox’s commercial. There were others also involved in the ad against stem cell research, NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, actors Jim Caviezel and Patricia Heaton, and, baseball player Mike Sweeney. The catholic church is against embryonic stem cell(esc) research, and supposedly supports adult stem cell research but does not show lots of support in the media.
The people that are opposed to stem cell research all have one main point against the research. Their main point against stem cell research is that it destroys potential human life. They do not voice other complaints. Most ESC research is done with extra cells left unused from invitro fertilization (IVF), with permission from the donors. The church disagrees with IVF and any good that can come from the leftovers from it. The church does however support non-esc
research.
In my opinion, there are many benefits of stem cell research, and the good greatly outweighs the bad. The main reason the authorities are against stem cell research is simple, for there is no money in curing diseases. The pharmaceutical companies would lose too much money if stem cells produce cures for the diseases that afflict most humans in the world today. The sad fact is the world is run by a dozen or so people who can afford anything that is needed, so they have no want to help everyone.
Works Cited
“Catholics Fund Stem Cell Research”. News.bbc.co.uk. BBC 26 Jul 2010. Web. 17 Apr 2011.
“chapter 1. The Stem Cell”. Stem Cell Information. National Institutes of Health U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. 09 Jan 2011.Web.18 Apr 2011.
Deem, Rich. “Stem Cell Research/Cloning: Status and Ethics.” http://www.godandscience.org/slideshow/stem005.html. Evidence for God. 6 Jul 2004
Web.19 Apr 2011.
Hütter, Gero et al. Long-Term Control of HIV by CCR5 Delta32/Delta32 Stem-Cell
Transplantation N Engl J Med 2009; 360:692-698. 12 Feb 2009.
“Stem Cells”. Encylopedia of Science and Technology. 10th ed. 2007. Print.